Railway signaling device.



No. 818,795. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906. 0. H, SMITH. RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-30, 1905.

2 SHEETS-SHEET1.

No. 818,'795. PATENTED APR. 24, 1906.

0. H. SMITH.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED MAR. 30, 1905.

2 SHEETSSHBET 2.

mnuenl'om.

CHARLES H. SMITH, OF LEBANON, PENNSYLVANIA.

RAILWAY SIGNALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 24. 1906.

Application filed March 30, 1905- Serial No. 5 ,864-

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES H. SMITH, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Lebanon and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Railway Signaling Devices and I do hereby declare the fol lowing to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in electric railwaysignals, more especially to what is known as the block system.

It has for its object among other things to guard against a train or car entering a block already occupied by a moving train or car, to enable a motorman to manually dispose the signals upon entering a block, and to note or be informed whether the signals have been actually or properly displayed or set, and to provide for his readjusting or restoring the signals upon leaving the block.

In operating the signaling mechanism the electric current is supplied or taken from the trolley-wire circuit.

The invention consists in certain improvements in construction, which will be fully disclosed in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification, Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing the disposition of the parts of my invention or signal. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the solenoir's. Fig. 3 is a plan of the same, and Fig. 4 a transverse section.

In the disclosure of my invention, I suitably arrange with relation to a block, as suggested by the-diagrammatic view, a number or series of solenoiis l and 1, two or a pair at the entrance and a like number thereof at the terminal of a block. Also arranged in like manner as relates to said block are two manually-actuated switch-levers 2 and 2, respectively, each arranged for effectiveness in electric circuits 3, as shown, which include the lamps 4. These circuits are formed practically in like manner one with the other and will be described in connection with stating the operation, as presently disclosed. The solenoids, rather the pair thereof, are each composed of two tubular spool members 1 suitably supported in position upon a noncond'ucting or insulating base 5 with their central apertures or openings 1' in axial alinement. Within these two spools is a split non-magnetic metal tube 1 and interiorly of the latter is arranged a magnetic core or armature 1 with its central enlarged portion of a cross-section just sufficient to permit it to move freely therein, and at one end of said core or armature is a conducting or contact member 1*. Said conducting or contact member is not fixed, but sufficiently loose upon the headed bolt 1 screwed into one end of the core, to allow the head of said bolt to impart a blow thereto, and thus insure the positive and quick withdrawal of said conducting member from between retaining contact-springs 6 6 when the core or armature is energized by the passage of an electrical current through the solenoid, as in shifting the switch-lever to off in rostering the signal to its normal position upon the train leaving the block. The springs 6 are suitably secured to the insulating or noncoir'ucting base 5 and wire I, as at 6", to the trolley circuit-wire 7.

A train or car approaching a block, and the motorman finding a clear passage he switches the lever 2 to on, as suggested in the diagram of Fig. 1. This sends a current through wire 8 from the trolley-wire connection 9 into the solenoid 1, energizing and moving its core or armature 1, the conduct ing member 1 thereof accordingly being projected between the contact-springs 6 6, the current then passing via wire 10 through the lamps 4 and grounded at the end of the block, as shown. The signals thus displayed by means of the lamps, as suggested by W R, indicative of a white and a red light, the signal nomenclature of which is obvious, it being, however, necessary to simply state that the danger-suggestive color being displayed toward the distant end of the block as a warning for an oppositely-moving car or train. As the setting of the signals is in full view of the operator or motorman, it is apparent that he is thereby advised whether the signals have been actually or properly displayed. As the car or train is leaving the block the motorman readjusts or resets the signals and switches to their normal position by throwing the switch-lever 2 to oiI, sending a current through wires 11 and 12 to the opposite end solenoid 1, moving its core or armature to break contact between the springs 6 and its conducting member at that end of the block.

Semaphore type of signals arranged in IIO boxes along the block at suitable intervals may be employed for the further efiiciency of my invention. Also overhead means actuated from the trolley-circuit may be employed in connection with my signaling apparatus, if desired.

Latitude is allowed herein as to details, since they may be changed to suit circumstances without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. In an electrical signaling apparatus, a pair of solenoids having a common axiallymovable core or armature, means electrically connecting the solenoids and the armaturecontacting points with signaling devices, and means for manually controlling the action of the aforesaid parts.

2. In an electrical signaling apparatus, a pair of solenoids having a common axiallymovable core or armature, a set of signalinglamps, means electrically connecting said solenoids and armature -contacting points with said signaling-lamps, and means for manually controlling the action of the aforesaid parts.

3. In an electrical signaling apparatus, pairs of solenoids, each pair having a common axially-movable core or armature, two sets of signaling-lamps eflective in opposite directions, means electrically connecting said pairs of solenoids and the armature-contacting points with said sets of lamps, and means 'for manually controlling the action of the aforesaid parts.

4. In electrical signaling apparatus, a pair of solenoids having a common axially-movable core or armature, a set of signaling devices, a trolley-feed wire, means electrically connecting said solenoids and the armaturecontacting points with said trolley-feed wire,

6. In electrical signaling apparatus, a pair of solenoids having a common axially-movable core or armature, a set of signaling devices, a trolley-feed wire connecting with said signaling devices, said solenoids and the armature-contacting points, a manually-actuated switch, and means electrically connecting said switch, solenoids, and armaturecontacting points.

7. In electrical signaling apparatus, a pair of solenoids having a common axially-movable core or armature, a set of signaling devices, a contact-point equipped with springs, said armature or core having a movable or sliding conductor and a headed end effective to engage said conductor when grasped by or in engagement with the springs of said contact-point and thus insure the instant disengagement of said conductor from the latter, means electrically connecting said solenoids, the armature-contacting point and said signaling devices, and means for manually controlling the action of the aforesaid parts.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

' CHARLES H. SMITH.

Witnesses:

GEO. C. MILLER, PAUL KOCHENDERFER. 

